Sensitive, crossbow-toting redneck Daryl Dixon has quickly become one of the best things about the Walking Dead television show, but the character hasn't appeared in the comics...at least not yet. But series creator Robert Kirkman has teased the comic's new arc, which may feature a familiar southern hunter.

During the Walking Dead panel at last weekend's Image Expo, Kirkman said that Norman Reedus, who plays Daryl on the show, has been begging Kirkman to write his character into the comics. And Daryl may see his black and white debut soon:

"I've definitely considered writing Daryl in to the comics," said Kirkman. "Norman is always pestering me about it. All I can say right now is that if you have been paying attention to the Internet we did just release a series of teasers called 'Something to Fear' for a new story arc that's coming up and it's a series of very threatening looking people with very specific weapons and one of them has a crossbow."

He's also released a cover image from the "Something to Fear" storyline, and while we can't see a necklace of zombie ears, that arm, leg, and crossbow could very well belong to Daryl.

I can understand why Kirkman wants to performa a little fan service (and actor service) by putting the popular Daryl in his comics. But the show and the books exist in such different (if similar) universes that it seems strange to force them back together this way. And can we really feel as warm and fuzzy toward this alternate-timeline Daryl if we haven't watched him spend half a freaking season searching for Sophia?